Feed for arc lamps



April 26, 1927. 1,626,472

P. MOLE, JR

FEED FOR ARC LAMPS Filed April 30. 1923 llllllllllllllllllllllllfi IIIIIII/IIIIIII l I! Inventor: Peter- TTlole Jr.,

His Attovney.

Patented .API'. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,626,472 PATENT OFFICE.

PETER MOLE, IR, 01 SCHEN ECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FEED FOR ARC LAMPS.

Application filed April 30, 1528. Serial No. 635,548.

My invention relates to arc-lamps and in particular to the feeding mechanism there of. Heretofore arc-lamps and in particular arc-lamps of a high intensity orBeck type,

have been made with a step-by-step or discontinuous feed in which a star-wheel is operated periodically. This mechanism'is a I source of considerable trouble and it is one of the objects of my inventionto substitute for this type of feed a more dependable one, and one by means of which the electrode may be fed continuously and without any interruption, thereby insuring a very steady light. It is also an object to provide details of improvement to increase the efiiciency of such a device.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the feeding mechanism 'as' applied to a positive elec- 'trode; Fig. 2 is an enlargement of a section of the feedingmechanism, Fig. 1. From the drawing it will be seen that the elec trodes 2 and 3 are respectively the negative and the positive electrodes. The positive electrode passes through the jaws 4 of the usual electrode holder and extends through the yoke 5 of the frame 6 and through-the heads 7 and 7 of the rotatable cage 8. "This cage has a bearing in the yoke 5 and another bearing in the op osite yoke 9 of the frame 6 (see Fig. 2). T rough this head 7 a a tube 10 extends, which tube is supported by a second bearing in the yoke 11. On its left end this tube is provided with a gear 12 and on its right end it is provided with a handwheel or knob 13 for rotating the tube, and therefore theggear 12, by hand. For the purpose of protection, the knob is insulated from the tube by any suitable insulating covering as for example in the formof a tube 1 1. The electrode3 as shown projects into the tube 10 which latter is hollow all the way throu h. In "trimming thelampa 4 newelectrode is inserted th'roughthe openaws 4 into position. i As shown in Fig. 2,

the head .7 has a sleevej16 to which latter ing 15 of this tube and, thrust 'through the yoke llthere is a collar 20 which is loosely mounted on the tube 10 the surface of which is rovided with pins 21 that roject to the rig t; Immediately to the rig t of the collar 21 there is a third collar 22 which is secured to the tube 10 in any suitable manner. This collar 20 is provided with notches into which the pins 21 project. Near the right end the same collar is provided with threads and a nut 23 therefor. On the outside of the collar 22 there is wound a helical spring 24 which serves as a compression member between the nut 23 and the collar 20.

With the. foregoing arrangement it will be seen that by turning the nut 23 the spring is com resse'd against the collar 20. The result is that the tube 10 is drawn to the right thereby increasing the friction between the collar 19 and the left-hand face of the yoke 11. The object of this tension is to prevent the tube from turning when the cage 8 is being rotated during which operation the gear 18 revolves about the gear 12 which latter is normally stationary. The object of the pins 21 is to enable the necessary lateral movement to take place between the collars 20 and 22 in'order that the friction between the collar 19 and the yoke 11 may be regulated. On the other hand, if it becomes necessary to change the adjustment of the electrode 3, the, worm 17 which controls this adjustment, as will presently ap ear, may be rotated by applying sufficient orce to the-hand-wheel 13. As indicated in Fig.

1, there is in engagement with the car wheel 16 a worm on the shaft 31, w ich shaft is driven through the medium of the motor 18 Therefore when the motor is in operation, the gear 16 is rotated and therefore the cage 18 is rotated carrying with it the worm17. Therotation of the cage causes the gear 18 torotate about'the gear 12 thereby causing the rotationof the,

worm 17 upon its bearingsin the heads .7 and7'of' the cage. [As indicated in the 10 m na' h wo m i fipr d dj with a" nut' 2 5. Rivfeted'to the nut 'or sec ured thereto in" any suitablemanner isa' plate 26 that extends transverse the axis of the cage. This plate is provided with an openir 27 through which the electrode passes; ack

of the vertical plane through the axis of electrode 3 parallel with the worm 17 and journaled in the heads 7 and 7' of the ca there is a rod, not shown. This rod a no passes through a hole in the plate 26 and serves as a guide and support for the plate. Therefore, whenever the worm 17 is. rotated, the plate 26 travels back and forth along the ide-rod in unison with the nut 25. Pro ectin to the left from the plate 26 there is a s oulder 28 having a seat which receives the carbon. This shoulder is suitably secured to the plate 26 but is insulated therefrom. For this purpgse there is a layer of mica 29 or other suitable insulating medium. This shoulder is provided with a cap 30 which is provided with a seat and which serves as a strap over the carbon. This cap is secured to the shoulder 28 by screws 32, Fig; 1. The electrode 3 is thus clamped to the plate 26 and is forced to travel therewith. It will thus be seen that I provide a constant feed arrangement which carries the electrode 3 forward steadily as long as the motor 18 is operating. This is accomplished as indicated through the medium of the worm 17 which, in a planetary fashion, rotates about the gear 12 together with the cage 8. Obviously, the electrode 3 also rotates with the cage 8.

If, while the arc is burning, it is found that the electrode 3 is not properly adjusted with respect to the negative electrode 2, the relation between the two electrodes may be changed by the hand-wheel 13 regardless of whether the motor is operating or not. If the motor is operating, the gear 18 is rotating about the ear 12 which is on the end of the tube 10. 6bviously, therefore, by rotating the hand-wheel 13, either clockwise or counterclockwise, the rotation of the gear 12 and therefore of the worm 17 can be either accelerated or retarded with the result that'the electrode 3 may be either advanced or set back to the desired point. If the motor is not operating and it is desired to move the electrode 3, this can be accomplished by the same operation inasmuch as the connection between the hand-wheel 13 and the worm 17 is independent of the connection between the worm 17 and the motor 18*.

WVhile I have illustrated my invention in eonnection with a specific form of apparatus, 1 t Wlll be understood that I do not wish to lnnit myself exclusively to the construction shown as the disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to carry out my inventiom the electrode longitudinally and at the same time about the axis of the main gear to rotate the electrode, whereby a continuous rotation and feed motion is imparted to the electrode.

2. In an arc-light mechanism, an electrode and a planetary gear with a main gear and a satellite gear element. a motor for driving the satellite element, said elelnent being in permanent engagement with the electrode whereby av continuous feed is imparted to the electrode by the motor, means for normally holding the main gear station ary and additional means whereby the main gear may be rotated independently of the motor.

In an electric light mechanism, an elec trode, a feed mechanism for the electrode comprising a planetary gear having a main gear element and a satellite gear element, the latter adapted to rotate about the main element, a screw driven by the satellite, and a nut driven by the screw for feeding the electrode, and a motor for driving the satellite about the main element, and means whereby said main element may be rotated thereby causing the rotation of the satellite independently'of the motor.

4. In an arc lamp, an electrode holder, a frame mounted to rotate on said holder about the axis of the electrode, a main gear mounted concentric with the electrode, an auxiliary gear mounted on said frame to rotate as a satellite about the main gear, said frame'locked in engagement with said electrode, said satellite and gear being locked in engagement with the electrode through suitable means and a motor for rotating the frame to cause the electrode to rotate and to travel longitudinally.

5. In an arc lamp, an electrode holder, a frame mounted to rotate on said holder about the axis of the electrode, a main gear mounted concentric with the electrode, an auxiliary gear mounted on said frame to rotate as a satellite about the main gear, said frame locked in engagement with said electrode, saidsatellite and gear being locked in engagement with the electrode throu rh suitable means, and a motor for rotating t e frame to cause the electrode to rotate and to travel longitudinally, and means for rotating the main gear to affect the rate of longitudinal motion of the electrode while the frame is rotating. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of April, 1923.

' PETER MOLE, J R, 

